So what actually matters? First, look for the word 'roasted'—not 'packaged.' A real roast date is specific: day, month, year. If it says 'best by' or 'sell by,' that's a different story. Second, check the origin. Single-origin beans from a specific farm or cooperative are more likely to have a genuine date, because the roaster is proud of the sourcing.

Third, and this is the big one: ask the roaster directly. I can't tell you how many times a customer has shown me a bag and asked, 'Is this really fresh?' The roasters who care will tell you the exact day, the batch number, maybe even the weather. The ones who are just printing dates will give you a vague answer.

A quick way to verify without asking: look at the beans themselves. Freshly roasted beans have a matte finish, not shiny. Shine means oil has come to the surface—which happens after a week or two. So if the beans look oily and the date says 'roasted yesterday,' something's off.